Snowbird

Snowbird Ski Resort

Along with its linked neighbour Alta, Snowbird offers perhaps Utah’s finest powder skiing thanks to an exceptional snow record and some fine open bowls and tree runs.

2500 acres of fantastically varied terrain is on offer at Snowbird and with over 12m of snow on average each winter, your chances of hitting the powder jackpot are pretty high. From tree runs in the Gad sector, to the open bowl of Mineral Basin and the serious steep terrain underneath the iconic Aerial Tram, Snowbird is home to some of the USA’s best runs in fresh snow. Make sure you check out the terrain over the hill at Alta – just note that snowboarders are still banned over there.

The location also makes it super easy to access from Salt Lake City – the drive takes less around forty-five minutes – as well as the other resorts in the Wasatch Mountains, making this an ideal stop on a multi-resort trip.

Our Snowbird Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Après ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Snowbird Skiing and Snowboarding

For beginners and intermediates, Snowbird is a better option that Alta further up the valley. There are some good learner slopes and decent progression is available on to longer blues further up the hill. However, the best attractions are undoubtedly for more advanced skiers and boarders, where making the most of the Utah powder is the aim of the day.

Snowbird’s iconic Aerial Tram accesses the entire frontside of the mountain, where the choice of lines are almost limitless. The most famous area is the Cirque beneath the upper reaches of the Tram, but the runs off the High Baldy Traverse and High Saddle Traverse on either side of the hill offer some fantastic tree skiing. For wide-open bowl skiing, Mineral Basin is home to ski-anywhere terrain that ranges from mellow off piste to some seriously steep gullies. This is also where you need to head to cross over into Alta, a ski area home to yet more fantastic steep terrain.

• Total Pistes: 2500 acres
• Beginner: 27%
• Intermediate: 38%
• Advanced: 35%
• Lifts: 11
• Altitude: 2365m – 3353m

Snowbird Piste Map

The local area map can be downloaded here.

Snowbird Resort

As many of Snowbird’s visitors come up for the day from Salt Lake City, there is limited accommodation up on the mountain. However, there are several lodges at the foot of the lifts and further self-catered accommodation in between it and Alta up the valley. The four main lodges (The Inn, The Lodge, The Cliff Lodge and Iron Blosam Lodge) all have outdoor pools for a post-skiing soak. We’d recommend staying up at the resort’s base to avoid the drive up from Salt Lake each day – plus it means that you’re guaranteed to be able to ski on a powder day when the access road may be blocked!

As with Alta, Snowbird is a true skiers resort and all visitors come here for the slopes so there is little to do away from the hill. Après is limited, but the terrace at the Rendevous restaurant at the foot of the tram can become lively, particularly after a busy powder day or if the spring sunshine is shining (Snowbird is known for staying open well into May and even as late as 4th July).

How to get to Snowbird

The drive up from Salt Lake City is incredibly easy, taking around forty-five minutes on a quick run – just watch out for powder day queues. It is also very easy to reach via the UTA public buses, which run regular services from the TRAX railway stations for $4.50.

• Salt Lake City airport: 1 hour

Snowbird Contact Details

• Website: www.snowbird.com
• Email: info@snowbird.com
• Telephone: + 1 801.933.2222
• Facebook: @SnowbirdUT
• Instagram: @snowbird
• Twitter: @Snowbird